Electrode Arrangement for Muscle State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing muscle signals are not accurate or reliable enough to determine muscle tiredness effectively, particularly for guiding sports exercises or detecting conditions like myalgia, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's disease.
Innovation Solution
An electrode arrangement with a passive earth body and processing apparatus that analyzes muscle signals to differentiate between non-tired, tired, and passive involuntary tension states by measuring high-frequency content, using multiple electrode pairs with varying distances for depth sensitivity and spectral analysis to determine muscle state and motor unit composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional electrode arrangements are used for muscle signal analysis, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement precision and reliability of muscle state determination are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode arrangement is segmented into multiple electrode pairs (at least two pairs) with different inter-electrode distances. Each pair targets different muscle depths, allowing the system to capture signals from various layers of muscle tissue. This segmentation enables more comprehensive muscle state analysis by combining information from multiple depth levels, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring overly complex single-structure electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
Different electrode pairs are configured with specific inter-electrode distances optimized for detecting signals from different muscle depths. The first electrode pair has a first distance optimized for shallow muscle layers, while the second electrode pair has a second distance optimized for deeper muscle layers. This local quality differentiation allows each electrode pair to excel at detecting signals from its target depth range, improving overall measurement accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If single electrode pair is used, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to detect signals from different muscle depths is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is divided into multiple electrode pairs, each segment targeting a specific muscle depth. This segmentation provides depth-resolved muscle signal detection capability, allowing the system to adaptively analyze muscle states at different levels without requiring a single complex electrode design.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple electrode pairs with different inter-electrode distances provide multi-functional capability for detecting muscle signals from various depths simultaneously. This universal design allows the same electrode arrangement to be used for analyzing different muscle layers and conditions, enhancing versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If high-frequency signal analysis is added to differentiate muscle states, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system analyzes muscle signals by examining frequency parameters, specifically comparing high-frequency content between different electrode pairs. By changing the analysis parameter to frequency domain characteristics and utilizing the natural frequency differences that arise from different muscle depths and states, the system achieves precise muscle state differentiation through computational analysis rather than hardware complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides accurate and reliable analysis of muscle states, enabling effective detection of muscle tiredness and properties, including conditions like myalgia and Parkinson's disease, by distinguishing high-frequency signals indicative of passive involuntary tension and normal frequencies associated with non-tired states.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical excitation in the muscle can be measured as a voltage between two electrodes in the tissue or on the skin
Implementation Method 2
an earth body may prevent the electrodes from picking up signals beyond the extent of the earth body
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3f
AI summary
The invention relates to determining the state of a muscle between a normal non-tired state, a tired state and a passive involuntary tension state. A signal from the muscle is recorded at rest by using an electrode arrangement, where an earth body may prevent the electrodes from picking up signals beyond the extent of the earth body. The frequency content of the signal is determined by spectral analysis, e.g. by computing a moment of the spectrum. A normal frequency content indicates a non-tired muscle state, whereas a low and a high frequency content indicate a tired and a passive involuntary tension muscle state. A mapping is used to improve accuracy of state determination, e.g. with a reference database.